Like as the Shining Sun, we do behold, Is hot, and Light, when th'Weather waxeth Cold: Like as brave Valour in a Captain steels His Armies Courage, when their spirit reels. As Aqua Vitae when the Vitalls faile: So doth this speech the Drooping Soul availe. How doth this Answer Mercies Captives Cheer? Yet those whom Justice took still Drooping were, And in this nick of time the Foe through spite Doth like a glorious Angell seem of Light. Yet though he painteth o're his Velvet smut. He Cannot yet Conceal his Cloven foot. Hence in their joy he straweth poyson on, Those Objects that their senses feed upon. By some odde straggling thought up poyson flies Into the heart: and through the Eares, and Eyes. Which sick, lies gasping: Other thoughts then high To hold its head; and Venom'd are thereby. Hence they are influenc't to selfe Ends: these darts Strike secret swelling Pride up in their hearts. The which he fosters till the bladder flies In pieces; then joy lies agast and dies. Now Satan counts the Cast his own thus thrown: Off goes the Angels Coate, on goes his own. With Griping Paws, and Goggling Eyes draws nigher, Like some fierce Shagg'd Red Lion, belching fire: Doth stoutly Charge them home that they did fall And breake the Laws of their Choice Admirall. And his attend: and so were his. For they Must needs be his whom ever they obey. Thus he in frightfull wise assaults them all, Then one by one doth singly on them fall, Doth winnow them with all his wiles, he can, As Wheate is winnow'd with the Sieve, and Fan. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BALINESE WITCH DOCTOR by KAREN SWENSON THE DESERTER['S MEDITATION] by JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN THE BLOOD HORSE by BRYAN WALLER PROCTER FROLIC by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL TIRED MOTHERS by MAY LOUISE RILEY SMITH EPIGRAM: 27. THE FRUIT by THOMAS WYATT |